Advertising sign



Jam. 21, 1930. w. A. BURNS 1,744,360

' ADVERTISING SIGN Filed March 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wry/m? 1 1 Bye/vs Jan. 21, 1930. w. A. BURNS 1,744,360

ADVERTI-SING SIGN Filed March 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arron/[Y Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM ALBERT BURNS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LUNA ADVERTISING COMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON,

ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY ADVERTISING SIGN Application filed March 8, 1928, Serial No. 260,207, and in Great Britain March 14, 1927.

This invention relates to diffusing signs more particularly of the type in Which a front stencil is adapted to be illuminated by daylight during the day and by an artificial source of illumination during the night. In this connection it is observed that a polished reflector suitable for use with daylight is unsuitable for night use with an artificial source of illumination since it reflects direct images of the light source and fails to produce an even field of light.

The present invention accordingly includes the provision of a tiltable polished reflector which can be set up in one position to reflect on to the stencil diffused light falling upon it by day, and is characterized in that by a single movement of the reflector diffused light with an even field can be caused to be directed on to the back of the stencil from an artificial source of illumination.

In this connection it has already been proposed to provide a diffusing screen immediately behind a front stencil in a sign provided with artificial illumination but such a screen is objectionable in a day and night sign as requiring complete removal or unnecessarly weakening the illumination during d. ylight use.

The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a box sign adapted for day and night use in which external diffused light is reflected by a plain polished tiltable mirror by day directly on to the stencil and diffused light from an artificial source is arranged to be directed on to the stencil by night on executing a simple turning movement of the mirror.

In a preferred form, the invention comprises a box sign having a front stencil for day and night illumination and a polished reflector and a dispersing or diffusing reflector mounted together and capable of being rotated Within the sign, so that the polished reflector illuminates the stencil by day and the diffused or matt surface reflector illumin ates the sign from an artificial source by night.

In a further form the surface of the reflector for use by day is utilized for reflection by night, the reflector being fluted and the night source of illumination being covered by a fluted screen with its flutes running trans versely to those of the reflector.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 represent simple forms in x which a polished reflector and a diffusing reflector are mounted to rotate together,

Fig. 3 illustrates a further modification in which the polished reflector has a fluted surface whiclris unobjectionable for daylight use, and is combined for night use with a,

transparent fluted diffusing screen for the artificial light, the flutes in the two members running transversely.

Turning now to the drawings and referring first to Fig. 1 A is the stencil sheet carried in a suitable frame 13. C is an end piece at tached to the end of the frame, having a tor, that is, it may be formed as a light coloured matt surface, or be painted with metallic paint or even glazed with a figured glass having a high dispersive effect, such glass being silvered on its rear.

The reflector G in the position shown in the figure is set up for day use, it being as sumed that it has an uninterrupted view of the sky directly overhead and that it is substantially at an observers eye level. Other conditions may be met by tilting the sign as a whole in the plane of the paper, varying the angle of the reflector, or a combination of these movements.

Assuming a source of artificial illumination to be in existence, for example assume or minus angle a until the back occupies sub 1 stantially the position of the face during day light. The back now acts as an illuminated screen and illuminates the display matter cut on the stencil. In lieu of a stencil, the front plate may comprise tinted glass, transparent or translucent pictures, or any suitable nain re of display all hereinafter included in the term stencil.

The rotation of the screen may be effected in any suitable way. For example, where the artificial illumination is by means of electric lamps the day to night movement of the reflector may be effected by electro-magnctic or solenoid-controlled mechanism, such mechanism being in circuit with the illuminating lamps, the night to day return being effected by a spring or like means when the lamp circuit is opened. Any form of movement preferably comprises stops, or like positive positioning devices to ensure the reflector being left in either of its two correct positions.

Instead of relying on outside illumination the sign may carry a series of "lamps placed behind the upper rail of the frame.

Referring now to the small angular swing indicated by the arrowed are a, it is clear that when the sign is arranged for daylight use, a relatively small swing of the mirror from its most effective position renders it practically dark, so to speak. There may accordingly be combined with the main movement, or swing, of the mirror, a subsidiary minor movement for day use to alternately light up and darken the display to produceby day an effect analogous to that obtained by flashing signs using artificial illumination.

Fig. 2 is a modification in which the polished mirror G and the diffusing screen Gr rotate about a ivot F and cooperate with a lamp H for nig it use. In this form the sign is double sided, a stencil A being arranged at the front and back. The combined mirrors are intended to be continuously rotated as for ex-' ample by a. pulley M and strap N so that either by day or night a flashing sign is produced having two oppositely arranged illuminating stencils.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the reflector G is formed of silvered glass having flutes 9 running vertically down its face. The lamp H is positioned behind a glass plate Gr which may be transparent .or opalized or frosted as desired, and is also provided with flutes on one face. The flutes of the screen G however are arranged at right angles to the flutes f/ of the mirror G" It will be realized that when the mirror is set up in the position shown in broken lines for daylight use the flutes g scatter the light falling on the mirror without substantial loss of intensity and that for night use when the mirror is arranged as shown in cross section the flutes g cooperate with the flutes to satisfactorily scatter the light from the lamp H so that a satisfactorily diffused illumination is directed through the stencil A.

In all forms it will be appreciated that to change the apparatus from day to night use all that is necessary is to alter the position of the daylight polish-ed reflector, when light from an artificial source will be reflected on the stencil in a diffused or scattered manner so that the stencil will be evenly illuminated without the observer per- .ceiving either the outlines of the illuminating filaments or any well-marked regions of brighter intensity than the rest of the field.

I claim.:

1. A day and night sign having a stencil, a casing provided with an admission opening for diffused light, a source of artificial light in conjunction with said sign, and a reflector angularly movable to assume two positions relatively to the stencil, .one position being such as strongly to mirror diffused light entering said admission opening through said stencil, and the other position being such as to cause the reflector to become part of a reflecting and light diffusing system, whereby light from said source of artificial light is both diffused and rendered visible through said stencil.

2. A day and night sign having a stencil, a casing provided with an admission open- 1ng for diffused light, .a source of artificial light in conjunction with said sign, and a re ector angularly movable to assume two positions relatively to the stencil, one side of said reflector being a mirror and the other side being a diffusing reflector, said mirror reflecting dlffused light towards said stencil in one of said positions and said diffusing reflector diffusing and reflecting light from said source towards said stencil in the other of said positions.

3. In a day and nigl'ltsign, a. casing open to admit daylight, a pair of oppositely-arranged stencils, a movable mirror to reflect external diffused light to illuminate said stencils, said mirror having a light diffusing and reflecting medium upon its reverse s de, a source of light and means to cont1nuously rotate said mirror together with said medium whereby the reverse side with thesaid medium moves into the necessary positions to reflect daylight and the mirror into the necessary positions to reflect artificlal light through each of said stencils.

l. Ina day and night sign, a casing open to admit dayl1ght,a pair of oppositelyarranged stencils, a movable mirror to reflect external diffused light to illuminate said stencils, said mirror having a light diffusing and reflecting medium upon its reverse side, a source of light and means to impart angular movement to said mirror together with said medium, whereby the reverse side With the said medium moves into the necessary positions to reflect daylight and the mirror into the necessary positions to reflect artificial light through each of said stencils.

5. A day and night sign having a pair of oppositely arranged stencils, a casing provided with an admission opening for diffused light, a source of artificial light in conjunction with said sign, and a reflector angularly movable to assume two positions relatively to the stencils, said reflector having oppositely facing reflecting surfaces, one position of the reflector being such as to enable the reflector strongly to reflect the diffused light entering said admission opening through one of said stencils and to form part of a reflecting and light-diffusing system, whereby light from said source of artificial light is both diflused and rendered visible through the second of said stencils and the other position being such as to reverse the functions of the reflecting surfaces of the reflector relatively to the two stencils.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM ALBERT BURNS. 

